Muni Gets OK to Extend Streetcar Line to Wharf / Expanded service expected to be popular

Edward Epstein, Chronicle Staff Writer

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4:00 am PDT, Wednesday, September 8, 1999

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Muni Gets OK to Extend Streetcar Line to Wharf / Expanded service expected to be popular

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1999-09-08 04:00:00 PDT San Francisco -- The Municipal Railway got final permission last night to start service early next year on the extension of its popular F streetcar line from Market Street all the way to Fisherman's Wharf.

Muni officials will not hazard a guess about how many local residents and tourists will ride the new F Market & Wharves Line, but they feel sure they will have a hit on their hands.

"It's going to be very popular. Just take a look at the queues for the cable cars," said Don Chee, manager of the F-Line project.

It's a popular guess that instead of using the cable cars for round-trips to and from the wharf, tourists will take the new line one way, at least.

Work on the planned extension has been proceeding for a few years. The route goes to the foot of Market Street, with a right turn onto Steuart Street, a left on Mission Street and another left onto the Embarcadero.

From there, it's clear sailing along the waterfront in a separated roadway for the streetcars up to Jefferson Street. Then the cars will enter traffic along Jefferson, going past Fisherman's Wharf main attractions, and end at Jones Street. The cars will head back to the Embarcadero on Beach Street.

Chee, who estimated the entire cost of the F-Line project to be about $140 million, said test cars could start running on the Fisherman's Wharf loop as early as this month.

As part of the extension, the Muni will discontinue the 32-Embarcadero diesel bus service because it largely duplicates the new streetcar line. The Muni will also cut back on the route of the 6-Parnassus trolley bus line, which now runs to the Steuart Street turnaround. It will end at the Transbay Terminal when the F-Line extension opens.

Ray Antonio, president of the Muni drivers union, Transport Workers Union Local 250-A, suggested that the buses removed from service on the 32 line be used to create a new line to carry tourists from the wharf to the Presidio and on to the Golden Gate Bridge.

Others have suggested that in addition to the planned service to the wharf, F-Line cars should be used to head south on the Embarcadero to the Giants' new Pacific Bell Park. That way, people could head from Fisherman's Wharf restaurants to Giants games.

The Muni plans to add service to handle ballpark crowds but will rely on its new Breda streetcars to carry people to the ballpark, back and forth to the Market Street subway.

Muni service planner Peter Straus said such F-Line service is possible eventually, but not as soon as next April when the ballpark opens.

The Muni is using a 17-car fleet on the existing F-Line, and figures that with cars out for repairs it will need more vehicles for the wharf extension.

It has bought nine so-called Peter Witt cars from Milan, Italy, for $30,000 each. The 70-year-old cars are being refitted at Muni's Geneva Avenue car barn. The Muni already has one of the sleek, orange Milan cars in its fleet of historic cars.

Chee said a few more probably will be available for service when the extension opens.

The nonprofit, volunteer Market Street Railway has helped the Muni develop the F-Line. Its members help clean the cars.

The group's president, Art Michel, told the commission that the extension will be a step forward.

"This change will will mean better, faster and more frequent service," he said.